Sprinkler head protector



Aug. 9, 1966 F. COHEN SPRINKLER HEAD PROTECTOR Filed Aug. 7, 1964 INVENTOR.

Felix Cohen I wwg dww ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,265,310 SPRINKLER HEAD PROTECTOR Felix Cohen, 2465 S. Kearney St., Denver, Colo. 80222 Filed Aug. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 388,165 7 Claims. (Cl. 239-201) My invention relates generally to sprinkler devices and more particularly to an improved protector for a sprinkler head of the pop-up type.

Sprinkler heads installed in a permanent location require-protectionfrom surrounding elements, such as weather, .soil, rocks and grass encroachment which impair their effectiveness. Particularly, sprinkler heads which reciprocate and elevate during sprinkling may be rendered inoperative by such elements, and part by cont-act with heavy objects.

Accordingly, it is an object of my invention to provide an improved sprinkler head protector which is simple in construction, durable, easy to install and allows working access to the sprinkler head.

Another object of my invention is to provide a sprinkler head protector which will inhibit surrounding grass growth both above and below the surface of the soil.

It is another object of this invention to provide an improved protector which is versatile and can be installed adjoining various configurations of walks or the like.

'It is a further object of my invention to provide an improved sprinkler .head protector which will shield a sprinkler head during periods of both use and non-use.

Other objects, advantages and capabilities of my invention will become .apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings showing .only preferred embodiments of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of the base portion of the sprinkle-r head protector;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a whole section of the hooded portion of the sprinkler head protector;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the assembled base and hooded portions of the sprinkler head protector;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of a section of the yard illustrating whole, half and quarter sections of the sprinkler head protector.

Referring now to the drawing, the protector illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 comprises a cylindrical or annular base portion 3 open at its top and bottom which is inserted into the soil 4 substantially below the root depth of grass with its top portion extending slightly below the ground level (FIG. 3). The base portion 3 surrounds the sprinkler head (not shown) and is of sufficient diameter to allow a working access to the sprinkler head. Ribs 5 of triangular section are circumferentially disposed at 90-degree intervals from the exterior surface of the base portion 3.

A hooded portion 6 fits over the top of the substantially submerged base portion 3 and has an inner flange 6a extending partially into base portion 3 for frictional engagement with the inner surface thereof. Triangular shaped recesses 6b in the undersurface of hooded portion 6 receives the upper portion of ribs 5. This hooded portion 6 is normally fitted on base portion 3 (as shown in FIG. 3) and is separable from the portion 3 to permit working access to the sprinkler head. Hooded portion 6 extends outwardly from the sides of base portion 3 so as to form an overhanging portion 7 which shades the sunlight from the grass growing the-rebetween and will thereby inhibit such grass growth.

In section, the hooded portion 6 is generally curved extending from a central bore 8 and sloping downwardly toward its outer edge. -Radially extending corrugations- 9 are formed in the upper surface of hooded portion 6 to facilitate drainage therefrom.

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The hooded portion 6 extends flush with the surface of the ground to shield the sprinkler head when in an elevated operating position as well as when in an inoperative position. In operation, water is projected by the sprinkler head out the central bore 8 onto the adjoining grass.

A removable cap 10 fits over the central bore 8 to fully enclose and thereby protect the sprinkler head from damage or from becoming inactivated by being covered with soil, rock or other foreign matter during the non-sprinkling season. Cap 10 is not required during the sprinkling seasons as the hooded portion affords adequate protection.

Base portion 3 hooded portion 6 and cap 10 are preferably molded of a stiff durable material such as a hard rubber or the like which is substantially indestructible. Hooded portion 6 has smooth rounded upper surfaces and is preferably of a blending or decorative color to blend in with the surrounding lawn or add color to the lawn as is desired.

The hooded portion 6 is shaped in sections to conform in abutting relationship with adjoining sidewalks or the like. In FIG. 4, there is shown the sprinkler head protector in quarter 11, half 12, and full 13 sections to accommodate particular areas of the yard. The same base portion 3 is used for insertion into the soil for surrounding the sprinkler head with interchangeable hooded portions of quarter 11, half 12, whole 13 sections or other desired angular variations thereof to abut against the adjoining walk 14 or the like. Additionally, the same cap is usable with any required hooded section. This arrangement therefore requires less storage capacity for the protectors than would equivalent protectors in which the hooded and base portions were of a single piece construction.

Although I have illustrated specific embodiments of my invention, various modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Therefore, I do not desire my invention to be limited to the specific details illustrated and described and I intend by the appended claims to cover all modifications which fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

1. A sprinkler head protector comprising a base portion for insertion into the soil in surrounding relation to a sprinkler head, said base portion having circumferentially spaced ribs extending from its exterior surface, a separable hooded portion with a flanged inner surface for insertion in frictional engagement with the inner surface of the base portion and having an over hanging grass-in hibiting portion extending outwardly from the annular portion over the adjoining grassed area, said hooded portion being of curved section with :a central bore through its upper surface to allow sprinkling therethrough and having its upper exterior surface corrugated for facilitating drainage therefrom.

2. A sprinkler head protector comprising a base portion for insertion into the soil in surrounding relation to a sprinkler head, said base portion having circumferentially spaced ribs of triangular section spaced at about and extending from its exterior surface, a separable hooded portion with a flanged inner surface for insertion in frictional engagement with the inner surface of the base portion and having an overhanging grass-inhibiting portion extending outwardly from the annular portion over the adjoining grassed area, said hooded portion being of curved section with a central bore through its upper surface to allow sprinkling therethrough and having its upper exterior surface corrugated for facilitating drainage therefrom.

3. A sprinkler head protector comprising a base portion for insertion into the soil in surrounding relation to a Patented August 9, 1966' sprinkler head, said base portion having circumferentially spaced ribs extending from its exterior surface, a separable hooded portion formed of flexible material with a flanged inner surface for insertion in frictional engagement with the inner surface of the base portion and having an overhanging grass-inhibiting portion extending outwardly from the annular portion over the adjoining grassed area, said hooded portion being of curved section with a central bore through its upper surface to allow sprinkling therethrough and having its upper exterior surface corrugated for facilitating drainage therefrom. I

4. A sprinkler head protector comprising a base portion for insertion into the soil in surrounding relation to a sprinkler head, said base portion having circumferentially spaced ribs extending from its exterior surface, a separable hooded portion with a flanged inner surface for insertion in frictional engagement with the inner surface of the 'base portion and having an overhanging grass-inhibiting portion extending outwardly from the annular portion over the adjoining grassed area, said hooded portion extending substantially above the ground to cover the sprinkler head during sprinkling and being of curved section with a central bore through its upper surface to allow sprinkling therethrough and having a plurality of radially extending grooves on its upper surface for facilitating drainage therefrom.

5. A sprinkler head protector comprising a base portion for insertion into the soil in surrounding relation to a sprinkler head, said base portion having circumferentially spaced ribs extending from its exterior surface, a separable hooded portion with a flanged inner surface for insertion in frictional engagement with the inner surface of the base portion and having an overhanging grass-inhibiting portion extending outwardly from the annular portion over the adjoining grassed area, said hooded portion being of curved section with a central bore through its upper surface to allow sprinkling therethrough and having its upper exterior surface corrugated for facilitating drainage therefrom, and a cover for fitting over the bore to fully enclose the sprinkler head during periods of non-use.

6. A sprinkler head protector comprising a base portion for insertion into the soil in surrounding relation to a sprinkler head, said base portion having circumferentially spaced ribs extending from its exterior surface, a separable hooded portion being of a configuration to conform in abutting relationship with means adjoining the head with a flanged inner surface for insertion in frictional engagement with the inner surface of the base portion and having an overhanging grass-inhibiting portion extending outwardly from the annular portion over the adjoining grassed area, said hooded portion being of curved section with a central bore through its upper surface to allow sprinkling therethrough and having its upper exterior surface corrugated for facilitating drainage therefrom.

7. A sprinkler head protector comprising a base portion for insertion into the soil in surrounding relation to a sprinkler head, said base portion having circumferentially spaced ribs extending from its exterior surface, a separable hooded portion of a fractional section to'conform in abutting relationship with a sidewalk adjoining the head with'a 1 flanged inner surface for insertion in frictional engagecentral bore through its upper surface to allow sprinkling ment with the inner surface of the base portion and having an overhanging grass-inhibiting portion extending outwardly from the annular portion over the adjoining grassed area, said hooded portion being of curved section with a therethrough and having its upper exterior surface corrugated for facilitating drainage therefrom.

References Cited by'the Examiner ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner.

V. C. WILKS, Assistant Examiner. 

2. A SPRINKLER HEAD PROTECTOR COMPRISING A BASE PORTION FOR INSERTION INTO THE SOIL IN SURROUNDING RELATION TO A SPRINKLER HEAD, SAID BASE PORTION HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIALLY SPACED RIBS OF TRIANGULAR SECTION SPACED AT ABOUT 90* AND EXTENDING FROM ITS EXTERIOR SURFACE, A SEPARABLE HOODED PORTION WITH A FLANGED INNER SURFACE FOR INSERTION IN FRICTIONAL ENGAGEMENT WITH THE INNER SURFACE OF THE BASE PORTION AND HAVING AN OVERHANGING GRASS-INHIBITING PORTION EXTENDING OUTWARDLY FROM THE ANNULAR PORTION OVER THE ADJOINING GRASSED AREA, SAID HOODED PORTION BEING OF CURVED SECTION WITH A CENTRAL BORE THROUGH ITS UPPER SURFACE TO ALLOW SPRINKLING THERETHROUGH AND HAVING ITS UPPER EXTERIOR SURFACE CORRUGATED FOR FACILITATING DRAINAGE THEREFROM. 